[2025 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Giō-ji Temple (Updated Jul)

The Gio-ji Temple lies in the quiet of Arashiyama’s back quarters, its petite garden covered in moss. Its humility is deceiving. Unlike the bigger temples, such as Tenryu-ji, Jojakko-ji or the Nison-in Temple, Gio-ji appears, at first glance, to pale significantly in terms of the heritage that other temples rightly take pride in. Yet Gio-ji Temple has a history that moves one to tears. Its story illuminates the weight of Buddhism as a personal faith, in the ways that it lifts human beings from dramatic times of emotional suffering. The history was a legend retold. During the Heian period, Shirabyoshi was a popular form of entertainment. The female performer sang and danced in a simple rhythm, and they dressed in men’s attire as they performed. Our protagonist is the beautiful woman Gio, who performed before the nobility in Kyoto during the late 12th century. Her performances captivated the powerful military leader Taira no Kiyomori. He took her in as his favored consort, but this was no happy ending for Gio. Taira no Kiyomori then fell for another dancer named Hotoke Gozen. Gio fell out of favor, and in the pain of unrequited love and humiliation, she made a critical decision to leave her former life behind. Along with her mother and sister, Gio arrived at Gio-ji Temple, which was to be named after her, to live a life of reclusion as a Buddhist nun. As fate goes, Hotoke Gozen would eventually join Gio in the Gio-ij Temple herself, seeking forgiveness and a redeemed, quiet life of Buddhist asceticism as well. A recurrent theme in this tale is the idea of karma. As these women’s former lives were entangled in webs of jealousy and rivalry, Buddhism came to them as the final answer for spiritual resolution. Buddhism presented a higher calling that enabled them to rise above the common desires for love, material pursuits, power and fame. #giojitemple #shirabyoshi #gio #temple #buddhism #mossgarden #arashiyama #kyoto #japan #historicallandmarks#历史古迹

#goingplaces Gio-ji Temple is a tranquil, lesser-known gem in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, known for its lush moss garden and peaceful ambiance. Originally built in honor of a 12th-century dancer named Gio, the temple is now part of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. This temple is especially loved for its moss-covered ground and picturesque bamboo forest, creating a serene and otherworldly atmosphere, particularly beautiful during Kyoto's autumn season when the surrounding foliage changes to vibrant reds and yellows. 🚊Getting There: Gio-ji is accessible by bus or by a short walk from Arashiyama’s main attractions, like the Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji Temple.

Autumn trip to Kyoto 11/15🍁 This is the place I recommend✨ Gio-ji Temple, which has a connection to Taira no Kiyomori✨ Address: 32, Saga-Toriimoto Kosaka-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8435 It is known as a nunnery of tragic love, where Gio, a Shirabyoshi dancer who was favored by Taira no Kiyomori, was exiled from the capital due to Kiyomori's change of heart, and entered the temple with her mother and sister✨ It is a modest thatched hut surrounded by bamboo groves and green maples, and the autumn leaves were beautiful, so I recommend it✨ Opening hours: 9:00~16:30 Admission fee: 600 yen #Kyoto sightseeing #Autumn trip

Gion-ji Temple is located in Saga, Kyoto. The garden is beautiful, and in the summer you can enjoy a carpet of moss✨The autumn leaves are also beautiful, so it's a great place to visit in various seasons🕊 This is recommended as a set with Arashiyama and Tenryu-ji Temple♪ #Kyoto #summertrip I'm also on Instagram and YouTube🕊 @to__kyo__rat #summertrip

Arashiyama Rangetsu: Living in the Rainy Night of Arashiyama Ten Years Ago Leaving Osaka early, it rained yesterday, so I canceled the trip to Nara. Just like the first time I came to Kyoto, I walked alone into the rainy Arashiyama. For ten years, the melodies of Misa Jōnouchi and Warewaregaku still linger softly in my ears, and this Arashiyama seems unchanged through the ages: the flowing waters of the Hozu River, the lattice windows of Yūsai-tei, the bamboo grove of Nonomiya, the withered lotus of Ogura Pond, the old gate of Enryian, the maple path of Nison-in, the blue moss of Gio-ji, the stone statues of Atago Nenbutsu-ji... As usual, I would pass through that tunnel full of urban legends, turn back at the clear waterfall stream, and walk straight to Kōzan-ji or Gatsurin-ji; if hiking in the opposite direction, my favorite Saihō-ji, Kegon-ji, and Jizō-in are not far either. Today, I got up early and stayed for a long time in front of the Sanmon gate of Tenryū-ji, watching the changing mountain mist, only to realize I had no cash on me. Perhaps also because of getting older, after walking the entire Atago Ancient Road, I returned the same way. Unlike the rural scenery of Ōhara, the secluded shrines of Kibune, or the secret mountain waters of Takao, whether you stroll like an ordinary tourist or stay deeply to create like Taijirō, walking on the Atago Ancient Road fills you with energy. Today I am staying at Rangetsu. With Benkei under major renovation, Hoshinoya hard to book, Suiran’s Western-style rooms simple, and Togetsu-tei refusing solo travelers, after looking around, I came back to Rangetsu. Going up the grand iconic slope, the inn’s elegant Japanese garden and river view refresh the mind. The traditional room I stayed in has a small courtyard in front and back for living and bathing views. This time the nakai (attendant) is a young girl whose English is even worse than the one ten years ago, but fortunately, technology is more advanced now, and we communicated using a translator device. The most beautiful moments in Arashiyama are in the early morning and rainy nights. Wearing a haori, I walked to Togetsu Bridge; the empty streets, dim lights, dark river surface, and fine rain made the whole Arashiyama seem mine alone. There is no better time to enjoy solitude. But people are not born to enjoy solitude. If that wound is no longer touched, whether escaping or numbing, time will fade it away. In the trilogy, writing about two people meeting in Arashiyama, parting at Kiyomizu, and growing old at Takamine is actually memory automatically altering, extending this tragedy for a lifetime. A thousand mountains in a midday dream, a shadowed window with a single arrow, mixed feelings remain, leaving only a silent sigh. Across the river, people are in the sound of rain, the evening wind stirs the autumn grievances in the reed leaves.

#tokyotravel Address: 32 Sagatoriimoto Kozakacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan 🇯🇵 Gioji Temple belongs to the Shingon sect of Buddhism, built in the 12th century, during the tumultuous Heian period. The temple's name and legend are inevitably linked to the tale of Gio, a beautiful dancer who became entangled in a tragic love story. and its architecture reflects the simplicity and harmony with nature that are hallmarks of Japanese Buddhist design. The temple's intimate scale and integration with its natural surroundings create an atmosphere of tranquility and contemplation. Gioji Temple, you'll be immediately struck by the serene atmosphere that permeates the grounds. The towering maple trees provide shade for the moss garden, which bamboo groves rustle gently in the breeze. This harmonious blend of architecture and nature creates a deeply calming and meditative environment. #historicculture #naturescenery #ukyo #kyoto #japan

"Gio-ji Temple" Today we will be introducing Gio-ji Temple, located in Sagano, Arashiyama, Kyoto. This modest temple is surrounded by bamboo groves and maples, and is known as the nunnery of tragic love where Gio, a Shirabyoshi dancer who was favored by Taira no Kiyomori, became a nun and entered the temple with her mother and sister after being driven out of the capital due to Kiyomori's change of heart. One of the highlights here is the beautiful moss garden, which is eye-catching during the beautiful green season🥹🌿 During the autumn foliage season, the carpet of fallen leaves spread over the moss is also beautiful, so it is one of the recommended spots for strolling around Sagano🥰🍁 *·̩͙ ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎ⓘⓝⓕⓞ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙ 🍁 Gion-ji Temple 📌32 Kosaka-cho, Saga-Toriimoto, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City 🚃 25-minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line 25-minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Electric Railway 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 ˒˒𖡼.𖤣𖥧 ⠜ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧˒˒. ⓣⓗⓐⓝⓚ ⓨⓞⓤ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 #KyotoTourism #Gion-ji Temple #Moss #AutumnFoliage #TripDomesticTravel

Gion-ji Temple, located in Okusaga, beyond Arashiyama, is a hermitage famous for its beautiful moss and green maples. The approach, mountain gate, and inner gate are already covered with moss, building up your sense of expectation.♪ And when you enter, a magnificent moss garden awaits you.♪ Green maples cover your head, creating a beautiful green world.😍 Gion-ji Temple is a nunnery related to the tragic love story of Gion, who also appears in the Tale of the Heike. Inside the hermitage, wooden statues of Gion and Gionna and Taira no Kiyomori are enshrined next to the main image, as if to represent the story. It might be nice to visit the hermitage while reminiscing on the tragic love story. Also, the round Yoshino window of the hermitage is called the "rainbow window" because the sunlight that shines through reflects various colors depending on the season, so please take a look at it as well ☝️ Why not visit to be soothed by the fluffy moss and vivid green maple leaves ♪🤗 In autumn, the maple leaves turn red, and the collaboration of moss and autumn leaves creates a beautiful scene. The red carpet of scattered autumn leaves in the moss garden is also a very beautiful scene ♪🍁🍁🍁#trip_aug #KyotoTourism #Kyoto #Gio-ji Temple #Moss #Arashiyama

#Sakura2024 Arashiyama in Kyoto, Japan 🇯🇵 is a famous tourist hotspot, but not many people know that there is a quiet and sparsely visited attraction in Arashiyama - Jioji Temple 😌. Zhiouji Temple is located in the lush greenery of Arashiyama🌳. As you enter the temple, you will be attracted by the mosses clinging to the ancient trees and stone walls. They are green or blue, thick or thin, just like nature's palette🎨. In the summer sun☀️, the light and shadow of the trees and the bright green of the moss make it amazing that moss can be so vibrant. Strolling along the path to the temple, every step is next to the thick moss. The breeze brings the scent of the mountains and the fragrance of the moss. In addition, there are not many tourists, so you can enjoy the rare tranquility and beauty in this tourist hotspot☺️. If you visit Jioji Temple in autumn, you can also enjoy the strong contrast between the fiery red maple leaves 🍁 and the bright green moss. I hope I can have the opportunity to visit again in autumn. 📍Location: 32 Saga Torii Honkosaka-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 🎟️Tickets: Adults 300 yen, Children (only elementary school students) 100 yen 🚌Transportation: Take the JR Sagano Line to Saga Arashiyama Station or take the Keifuku Railway to Arashiyama Station and walk for about 20 minutes #JapanTravel #Kyoto #Arashiyama